ABSTRACT
InvestIgatIng a Closed InstItutIon egardless of how much experience or know-how an investigative reporter may have, sometimes the techniques discussed in the previous chapters are
not enough to break through an institution’s wall. Some institutions are so closed that investigating their activities seems impossible. These include the following:
n Private corporations exempt from most Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure rules
n Public corporations that effectively gag their employees
n Large educational and charitable institutions
n Uncooperative governments
Public access laws don’t always apply and using them effectively often requires that you know what to look for. That’s difficult if an organization is run like a fortress, and the employees inside it try to obstruct your path rather than help you navigate the maze they work in.
